Medications: Their warnings can be scary

Medications: Their warnings can be scary

Do you ever read the warnings on the medications you take? I do, both my prescriptions and the over-the-counter stuff I take. I am really surprised by what some of them say.

The warning label on Preparation H warns not to take the medication internally. Very good advice. I’m guessing if you took it internally, the only thing you could eat would be through a very small straw.

I took one prescription that warned of “**** leakage.” I quit taking that one because of the warning. I have IBS and I do not need any “**** leakage.” Can you imagine? If you take that prescription, be thankful white jeans are out of style!

The warnings that shock me the most are the ones that list the side effects as what you are trying to get rid of. There are a lot of medications for headaches that warn its users about causing headaches. I don’t take those. No reason to – I already have the headache.

Next time you start to take any medication, be sure to read the warnings. Reading those warnings could save your life. And, they could also give you a good laugh. Sounds like a win/win situation to me!

Comments

There is actually a reason for medications sometimes causing a side effect that’s like the symptom you’re trying to treat. Those medications are ones that affect an internal balance in your body. So if you are too far one way, they’re supposed to bring your body chemistry back in the other direction. Unfortunately, you can end up going too far, and get the opposite symptom (e.g. having to go to the bathroom too often, when you couldn’t go before.) Or you can end up getting the same symptom (like a headache) all over again.

Everybody reacts differently to medications. And even though the label may list some pretty scary side effects, often those are extremely rare ones. It’s best to ask your doctor or pharmacist if you feel unsure taking any drug.

I think it is of general rule and even practice that in every medication prescribed by the doctor there is always a “warning” or side effects. But some of those patients had never manifested that kind of side effects. Meaning, it depends on the condition of the patient, age, among others. Generally it is too scary but there is no perfect medicine for that matter.